Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1887-10-12

drew back in alarm His eyes questioned her
in vain for the cause of this sudden change.
He thought:
''She must have awakened and resented
such a liberty. What shall | dor
''Oh, niademoiselle pardon me, implore.'
'ln what have you offended that you ask
my pardon!7 said she, more eoldly and
haughtiy, if possible, than before
81 thought feared-that | was unhappy
enough to lave in some way vexed you"
''You are mistaken" said she, bowling, and
leaving him speeches..
Raymond managed to make sign to his
mother, begging her to say nothing to NJ
Forney on the subject SO near his heart, and
their conversation was therefore on ordinary
topics, and they soon took their leave.
1t would I've too much to say that Suzanne
regretted her severity, but it Is very sure that
her heart ached heavily all the time, and she
lost color ard spirit, SO much so as to ser-
ously disquiet her father, who feared that she
WAS i'll, but she declared herself perfectly
we'll
"Well, do you feel contented herea Would
You like to go away, to Paris or any other
places You have only to say what you wish,
you know, my child, to find me willingn
Il am perfectly happy here, father" she
replied, "and like this quiet, peaceful exist
ence far better than would a gayer place
So say no more, pray YOU"
The real reason that she did not wish to
leave her present home for Paris was that she
knew that Raymond's vacation ended very
soon, and that he then would be near her
there, following her at every turn, and here
she would be free.
Summer passed all too swiftly. and autumn
came with its gorgeous beauty of coloring
and its wealth of harvest, and October had
nearly gone. Already the nights were cold
and frosi y, though the days were bright and
sunny, and Suzanne wandered about their
park and even into the forest beyond, as if
she hunted her lost peace of mind. Her young
heart was heavy with unshed tears, but
though she knew she loved Raymond, she
had been through such awful and strange ex-
periences that she matured far beyond
her age, and her reason and knowledge of the
past taught her that love or marriage with
al honorable man with an untarnished name
was not for her; that fate had ordered that
her life should he passed alore.
One day as She sat on fallen tree absorbed
in these thoughts, her tears fell unheeded
upon her cheeks for her withered youth ana
lonely future which u fathers love could
now never fill, and she thought she heard a
step behind her.
She knew so well who was there that she
did not even turn her head but by a supreme
effort of will conquered her agitation and her
fare wore mask of scorn and naughty dis
dain rs RAYMOND came in front OF her, and
iclniDr his hands exclaimed:
Suzanne, Suzanne, have pity on mei'
You can have nothing to say to me that
wish to hear beg, therefore, You will per
NIT me to pass"
No; this life is intolcrablei You treat NE
as if were the veriest wretch ON earth. 1t is
not 50 that an honest man's love should be
trs,mped upon"
Il do not know what you refer to. simply
find your attentions dlstasteful, and | wish to
make you so understand As you seem to be
unable to understand actions | am Obliged 10
tell you so"
She wished to pass him, but he stepped in
trent Of her, saying:
You shall not go until you have heard
me"
Your action makes me but the more posi-
| tive that l have done right in refusing to
speak to you. Since You threaten me, re-
gard you as a coward
80 be it. | am coward
| She recoiled little before Raymond, who
seemed no longer to be able to control him
self. But behind her was the ravine, with its
abrupt and stony bank, SO that she could not
escape him that way without danger, and she
turned to him, saying angrily;
III You make one step toward me | shall
| throw myself down.
Suzanne, pity you"
mel You pity met
Yes, for you must love me well to treat
me in this manner You must have some
reason why you do not want-not dare ac-
| cept my love and thus try to hide your own.
| | feel now what | have never dared hope
| you do love me-"
! "You are utterly mistaken; do not love
| you. Inever did, never shall, and your love
| is an offense to me-"
| "Suzannel you are very hard, very cruel
/ Listen. Impose upon me any condition you
| think necessary. However hard 1t may he
will accept"
! Still no answer.
| Then there remains but one thing for me,
and that is death. | cannot live without
hope, without your love. Adieu, Suzanne,
May you he happy"
| And the young man, in a half demented
condition, raised the muzzle of his gun and
! placed it against his heart, both barrels
/ loaded, and before Suzanne could speak
raised his boot to strike the triggers, Suzanne
sprang forward involuntarily and caught the
muzzle. turning it slightly, so that the two
charges whizzsd by her head and the powder
| burned her dress
Her heart melted One second more and
| he would have been lying a corpse at her feet,
and, forgetting all that had seemed to her
such potent reasoning, she sank to her former
seat, powerless and faint.